Resilient tip for tapping rods



Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESILIENT TIP FOR TAPPING RODS George '1. Meyer, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application October 7, 1933, Serial No. 692,592

6 Claims. (01. 225-3) This invention relates to tapping rods for beer pumps and more particularly to resilient tips for application thereto.

For many years, all tapping rods on beer pumps have been formed with metal tips. In some instances the lower end of the tube forming the tapping rod has been unevenly cut and the resulting segments have been turned inwardly to close or partially close the lower end of the rod. Some manufacturers have chosen to spin the end of the rod on a metal cap or plug while others have threaded the end of the rod to receive a suitable metal plug to form a closure therefor. In every instance of which I have knowledge, however, the tip or lower extremity of the tapping rod has been formed of metal.

During the universal use of wooden barrels for beer, these metal tipped tapping rods served satisfactorily. However, since the advent of metal barrels a serious difiiculty has been discovered in the use of the old standard type metal tipped tapping rods.

Beer barrels, save for a few and very expensive exceptions, require a relatively thin inner coating of pitch or other similar material. The purpose of lining the barrel with pitch is well known in the art and it will suffice at this point to comment that a lining of this material serves to prevent contamination of the beer by contact with the barrel. I

The tapping of a beer barrel requires the air tight attachment of a tapping device to the tap bush and the forcing of a cork contained therein into the barrel by driving the tapping rod. through the cork receiving aperture of the bush. The tap- (ping rod is then driven to the bottom of the bar- 'rel to insure the removal of all of the contents of the barrel. In effecting this operation, not infrequently the impact of the extremity of the tapjping rod with the bottom of the barrel is of sufficient force to crack, chip or otherwise destroy the protective pitch coating in the barrel. Any chipping or cracking of the thin pitch lining may result in contamination of the beer and. invariably results in the necessity of re-pitching the barrel when it is returned to the brewery prior .to refilling the same. The damage thus done has been consideredincidental in the past, but the frequency of such occurrences have been greatly increased since the advent of the metal barrel.

In my opinion, the reason for the increased number of damaged pitch linings in metal barrels caused by the impact of the tapping rod, is due sufficient resiliency to absorb the shock of impact of the hard metal tip on the thin surface of pitch to a degree which even approaches the shock absorbing qualities of the comparatively thick bottoms of the previously prevalent wood barrels. A probable further reason for the aggravated damage of the pitch linings in metal barrels lies in the fact that the bond between the pitch and metal is far less strong than the bond between the pitch and wood, the latter having a fibrous surface while the former is a smooth if not polished surface. Furthermore, the natural compressible quality of the wood permits the force of impact of a tapping rod to be dissipated over an area which is considerably larger than is possible in the case of the metal barrel.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved tapping rod provided with a resilient tip to prevent damage to the pitch lining of metal barrels.

Another object resides in the provision of a resilient tip for tapping rods which is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with or as an accessory to present tapping rods.

A more specific object lies in the provision of a resilient tip for tapping rods having new and improved structural advantages which permit its use with all standard tapping devices of Well known design.

A further object lies in the provision of a resilient tip adapted to be readily applied and releasably retained on the lower end of a tapping rod.

Another object lies in the provision of a new and improved resilient tip capable of receiving and transmitting the necessary driving pressure to remove the cork without resulting in detrimental deformation of the resilient tip.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational View of a metal barrel showing a tapping device inserted therein; which device is provided with the resilient tip constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Fig. 2 in an enlarged vertical sectional view of the lower extremity of the tapping rod illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the structural details thereof and its application to an ordinary tapping device.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged views of the lower end of a tapping rod showing modified forms of resilient tips applied thereto.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 1, a metal barrel l0 having a relatively thin pitch lining II, is provided to prevent accidental removal or displacement of with a bung bush I2, a bung stopper I3, a tap bush l4, and a tap l5 provided with usual coupling, adjusting, sealing, and pressure responsive valve means. All of the above named elements may be of any standard commercial type.

As the present invention relates particularly to resilient tips for tapping rods, I have not chosen to show any specific form of tapping device. Obviously, any standard beer pump or other usual tapping device including a tapping rod 16 having a central longitudinal bore I1 and inlet ports l8 positioned adjacent the lower end of the rod may be utilized to advantage in tapping the barrel when the rod is provided with a resilient tip H! which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the lower end of the tapping rod I6 is directed inwardly to form a flange 20 and a restricted opening 2! (see Fig. 2). The opening 2| is adapted to receive and releasably retain the resilient tip IS on the lower end of the tapping rod 16. The resilient tip [9 is preferably formed of a tasteless rubber of a well known composition which has proved particularly adaptable for brewery use. The amount of resiliency of the tip may be Varied within limits consistent with the requirements to be hereinafter more specifically mentioned. The resilient tip [9 now under discussion is preferably formed with a body portion 22, a neck portion 23, and a button head 24.

Referring again to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the body portion 22 of the tip [9 is of such diameter that it may readily be received in the tapping rod bore of the tap 15. This feature is of importance in so far as it permits the application of the present invention to each and any of the standard taps now in common use. A limit in the diameter of the resilient tip is desirable due to the fact that the clearance provided in the tapping rod bore of standard taps is insuificient to permit the successful application of a. device which is larger than the tapping rod and hence not receivable into the tapping rod bore of the tap. The construction of the resilient tip I9 is such that it lends itself to ready application to the lower end of the tapping rod IS. The head 24 is deformable to a sufficient degree to permit it to forced into the aperture 2| formed by the inturned flange 20. When the head 24 has passed through the opening 2! it expands to normal size and is thus releasably retained in proper position wherein, the neck 23 is within the opening 2| and the body portion 22 overlies the flange 20 a sufficient amount to provide a relatively large pressure transmitting area for a purpose to be hereinafter more specifically stated.

A modified form of the invention, shown in Fig. 3, comprises a metal closure 25 secured in the lower extremity of the tapping rod "5 in accordance with present common practice. The closure 25 is provided With a shoulder portion 26 adapted to overlie the inturned flange 20 on the red. A head 2'1, formed on the closure 25 depends below the shoulder portion 26 and forms a means for releasably retaining a resilient tip element 28. The tip 28 is made of any suitable material, such as rubber, and is preferably in the form of a disc having a recess 29 in its upper face. The tip 28 may be readily applied to the closure 25 by stretching or springing the tip so that the head 2! is receivable in the recess 29. As the tip springs back to its normal shape, the gripping action on the head 21 is sufflciently strong the tip. This gripping action is effected by the provision of suitable contours to the head 21 and recess 29.

The modification of the invention shown in Fig. 4 comprises a moulded rubber tip element 30 having a reduced threaded upper portion 3f which terminates in a shoulder 32 adapted to abut the lower end of the tapping rod [6 when the tip is applied to internal threading 33 formed in the bore I! at the lower end of the rod. Suitable passages 34 are formed in the tip 30 to permit the passage of liquid from the barrel into the rod l6. While the moulded rubber tip 30 is shown as a single element, it is understood that should it be deemed advisable the lower extremity of the tip may be provided with a supplemental tip element 35 (shown in dotted lines) fashioned of a softer and more resilient material and attached in any suitable manner such as by the use of cement.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 is similar to the one shown in Fig. 4 save for the fact that a metal closure 36 is threaded into the tapping rod I6. In this instance, the metal closure is provided with a suitable head 31 adapted to releasably retain a resilient tip element 38 in the manner illustrated and described with reference to Fig. 3.

The tapping operation with the present device is identical with that long practiced. The tap I5 is applied to the tap bush I4 in the usual manner with the tapping rod l6 elevated to the position shown in Fig. '2. When proper airtight seal has been effected between the tap bush and the tap, the tapping rod I6 is driven downwardly to force the cork from the tap bush into the barrel. The rod is then dropped to the bottom of the barrel so as to insure the withdrawal of virtually the entire contents from the barrel. After the tapping rod 16 has been driven to the bottom of the barrel, the top threaded element on the tap I5 is tightened to prevent leakage of air past the tapping rod to insure the maintenance of pressure within the barrel. The resilient tip provided on the end of the tapping rod I6 provides a suitable bumper element to prevent any possible damage to the pitch lining ll of the barrel Ill. The resiliency of the tip is suflicient to prevent any chipping or cracking and thus the lining is unimpaired by reason of the use of the present invention.

It will'be noted in the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, that the flange 20 formed at the lower end of the tapping rod l6 provides an abutment of annular form acting upon a relatively large area adjacent the peripheral portion of the body 22 of the resilient tip 19 to transmit the necessary pressure for driving the cork into the barrel. In Figs. 3 and 5 the heads 2'! and 31 are provided with relatively large flat pressure faces and in these instances the pressure is transmitted to the central portion of tips 28 and 38 respectively for the purpose above mentioned. Upon further examination, it will be seen that the portion of the resilient tip upon which the driving pressure is exerted is relatively thin. As a result of this designing it will be quite apparent that the pressure required to drive the cork from the tap bush will be insufficient to cause any material deformation of the tip. Furthermore, the resiliency or shock absorbing quality of the tip will in no way be detrimentally affected, as in each instance an adequate and relatively thick cushioning area is provided.

The several forms of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing have been chosen at random for illustrative purposes only and it is to be understood that they are at no time to be construed as limitations of possible applications of the invention which may briefly and. concisely be stated as the provision of a shock absorbing tip for application to the lower extremity of a tapping rod to prevent damage to the relatively thin protective lining of the barrel.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in the foregoing specification, it is understood that various changes may be made in its embodiments without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A tapping rod for beer pumps and the like comprising, a tubular member, a flange on the lower extremity of said member, and a resilient tip for releasable application to said flange.

2. A tapping rod for beer pumps and the like comprising, a tubular member, an inwardly directed flange on said member, and a resilient tip for application to said flange.

3. A tapping rod for beer pumps and the like comprising, a tubular member, an inwardly directed flange on the lower extremity of said member, and a resilient tip for attachment to said flange to form a closure for said member and a shock absorber to prevent damage to the bottom of said container.

4. A tapping rod for beer pumps and the like comprising a tubular member, threading on the lower end of said member, a plug for application to said threading, a resilient tip, and means on said plug for releasably retaining said tip on the end of said plug.

5. A tapping rod for beer pumps and the like comprising, a tubular member, a closure for the end of said member, a resilient tip, and means on said closure for releasably retaining said resilient tip in position on said closure.

6. A tapping rod for beer pumps and the like comprising, a resilient tip for attachment to the lower extremity of the tapping rod, said tip having a diameter less than the rod diameter and deformable to an extent wherein its greatest diameter will not exceed the tube diameter under normal operating pressure.

GEORGE T. MEYER. 

